For millions of boys and girls, professional football is something that happens on a TV or smartphone screen. These are distant stars, packed stadiums, and the roar of thousands of voices that seem like something from a parallel universe. But this spring, for 22 Ukrainian children, the line between a distant dream and reality blurred forever.
They grew up to the sounds of sirens, experienced evacuations, and their parents are currently defending the country on the front lines. However, for over a week, these young footballers found themselves inside their biggest dream. Thanks to the international social project “Royal Journey,” initiated by the Betking Foundation in partnership with Spain’s La Liga, children of displaced persons and military personnel embarked on a grand journey across Europe.
Lviv, Milan, the legendary San Siro, the French Riviera, Girona, and majestic Barcelona – these are no longer just geographies from textbooks or club names in video games. Now, they are part of their personal stories. Stories where they are not just spectators, but the main characters.
Stories of Young Champions
Every child on this journey is a separate universe, full of strength, character, and hope. They came from different parts of Ukraine, but one passion united them.
“Royal Journey” from Betking Foundation: How Ukrainian Children Became Part of the Big European Game (11 Photos)
Daniil, 9 years old (FC “Lviv”)
9-year-old Daniil plays for FC “Lviv” and dreams more than anything of one day wearing the Real Madrid jersey. The boy knows what true discipline is, as his father is a soldier currently holding the defense on one of the challenging eastern fronts.
During the match in Girona, Daniil’s family was separated by thousands of kilometers but united by one screen: his mother and younger sister watched the broadcast in Lviv, his father was at his post, and Daniil himself was walking onto a huge European field hand-in-hand with a Girona FC player at that moment.
“When thousands of fans are watching you, you get a little nervous at first. But I really enjoyed it,” shares Daniil, full of emotion.
Before and after the match, Daniil is constantly in touch with his father. His dad asked his son to take as many photos and videos from the stands as possible. The greatest joy for the boy, however, was meeting Ukrainian national team forward Vladislav Vanat, who not only managed to give him a high-five but also take a photo together.
Daniil is convinced that this journey is just the first step, and to play at this level, one must train a lot and never give up.
Veniamin, 9 years old (FC “Lviv”)
Veniamin is only nine, but he has already managed to play for four teams: FC “Trostianets,” “Metalist,” “Dynamo-Lviv,” and FC “Lviv.” Behind this list lies a difficult story – the boy’s family fled Russian bombs twice. First from their native Sumy region to Kharkiv, and then to Lviv.
His father introduced Veniamin to football. Now the boy plays as a midfielder and is confident that all the most interesting things in the game happen in the center of the field, which is why his idols are Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes. When his father asked, “Do you want to go to Spain and lead La Liga players onto the field?”, the boy didn’t hesitate for a second.
The trip became immense happiness for him, but also an emotional challenge. While Veniamin was discovering the beauty of Italy and Spain, shelling continued in Ukraine. On one of those days, the boy couldn’t hold back tears of anxiety for his mother, father, and 4-year-old sister who remained at home.
But when the stadium tunnel opened, and the packed Girona arena erupted in applause, Veniamin felt an incredible surge of energy. A great future lies ahead of him, but the memory of seeing Viktor Tsygankov play live and feeling the breath of a European stadium will stay with him forever.
Matviy, 10 years old (FA “Ternopil”)
Matviy came on the trip from Ternopil. Football has always been a part of his life – the boy watched Ukrainian national team matches with his parents from a young age. Two years ago, his father died defending Ukraine from Russian invaders. His mother, who works as a doctor, brought him to the “Ternopil” football academy.
Matviy plays as a midfielder and admires Lamine Yamal’s game. He knows the formula for success: consistency, hard work in training, and absolute dedication to the cause. He once dreamed of escorting a professional player onto the field for a Ukrainian Premier League match, but enemy shelling thwarted those plans. However, in Spain, this dream returned to him on a completely different scale.
Overcoming his fear, the 10-year-old midfielder not only went on the trip but stepped onto the professional turf of a European stadium, realizing that very cherished dream.
Artem, 10 years old (FC “Oleksandriya”)
10-year-old Artem practically lives and breathes football. He currently trains at the youth academy of FC “Oleksandriya,” where he ended up after evacuating from his hometown of Snihurivka in the Mykolaiv region – a frontline city that is still under constant attack.
Artem’s idol is the Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić. “He always carried the team on his shoulders. When he played for Real Madrid, they won the Champions League,” the boy analyzes with adult-like maturity.
As part of the “Royal Journey,” Artem received what every young fan dreams of. Together with the team, he visited the iconic San Siro stadium and the museum of the legendary AC Milan – the club where his beloved Modrić once shone. Then came sunny Spain, the majestic Camp Nou, and a true European football atmosphere.
Besides the stadiums, the boy was impressed by the local cuisine: he really wanted to try authentic Italian pasta, and he succeeded. The trip showed Artem that big football is entirely achievable if you work hard.
About the “Royal Journey” Project
This journey was not just an excursion or a tourist route. It was a profound social mission aimed at restoring children, whose childhoods were stolen by war, faith in miracles and their own strength. This is the second such trip by the Betking Foundation in a year.
The project organizers emphasize that football is a unique tool for diplomacy and psychological rehabilitation.
“Supporting children is a conscious investment in the future of Ukraine. When young children walk onto the field alongside professional footballers in a packed stadium, confidence is born, which stays with them for life,” says Pavlo Zhurilo, founder of Betking Foundation.
This is Not the End of the Journey – It’s the Beginning of New Dreams
When the bus with 22 young footballers crossed the Ukrainian border on the way back, the atmosphere inside the cabin was entirely different from the beginning of the journey. These children were returning home changed. They saw the world of big games from the inside, stood on the pitches of the best arenas in the world, and felt the energy of tens of thousands of fans.
The “Royal Journey” by Betking Foundation has concluded, but it has fulfilled its main task – proving to children who have endured too many adult challenges that big football is closer than it seems.
This is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning of new dreams, ambitious goals, and future victories. After all, sometimes one journey can offer not only vivid memories but also the belief that nothing is impossible.
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